tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30571278160800490242018-03-05T16:01:05.151-08:00Dragon Spring Taiji & QigongArticles and musings from living a Taiji and Qigong life for over 30 years
(www.dragonspringtaiji.co.uk)Taiji Alechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821292077854103080noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3057127816080049024.post-63490701724670605742015-11-16T06:48:00.000-08:002015-11-16T06:48:23.024-08:00<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: firebrick;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , &quot;lucida grande&quot; , &quot;lucida sans unicode&quot; , &quot;lucida sans&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Repetition</span></span></span></b></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="197" name="graphics1" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/03b364c56fa4bf391a0cb98ca/images/e969da11-adca-4d63-aefc-09b19cf2fc7c.png" vspace="10" width="200" /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Any physical movement will improve over time with repetition. Remember learning to tie your shoes laces? All it took was repetition, but very few people (if any) use shoe lace tying as a practice for understanding themselves at a deeper level, because it's done unconsciously and probably learnt when you were very young. Even so, you are now likely to be an expert at shoe lace tying!</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">To learn a Taiji Form of any kind (empty hand, duo, or weapon), requires a commitment to regularly practise the same movements repeatedly. This needs a certain amount of intention and discipline. As a beginner, having another new posture to add to the sequence each week keeps the learning process fresh: it's not the same as it was last week; the new posture may shed some light on what has gone before revealing a principle you hadn't quite understood up to that point. As each week goes by your practice will take a little longer giving more time to drop into the receptive space of the Form. As well as repeating what's gone before, this pattern of adding something new each week is a repetition in itself.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">But what happens once the sequence is completed... Any physical movement will improve over time with repetition. Remember learning to tie your shoes laces? All it took was repetition, but very few people (if any) use shoe lace tying as a practice for understanding themselves at a deeper level, because it's done unconsciously and probably learnt when you were very young. Even so, you are now likely to be an expert at shoe lace tying!</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">To learn a Taiji Form of any kind (empty hand, duo, or weapon), requires a commitment to regularly practise the same movements repeatedly. This needs a certain amount of intention and discipline. As a beginner, having another new posture to add to the sequence each week keeps the learning process fresh: it's not the same as it was last week; the new posture may shed some light on what has gone before revealing a principle you hadn't quite understood up to that point. As each week goes by your practice will take a little longer giving more time to drop into the receptive space of the Form. As well as repeating what's gone before, this pattern of adding something new each week is a repetition in itself.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">But what happens once the sequence is completed... there's no new posture to keep it fresh. While it's 'new', the enjoyment of playing a Taiji Form, or Qigong Set, for its own sake may last a few months, or even a few years, but going through the same sequence of movements every day would soon become boring and tedious unless a deeper meaning or purpose can be found, beyond just physical movement.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">A common experience amongst many Taiji players is that we had to be willing to repeat the Form over and over again, day in, day out, simply to get beyond the place where we wanted to 'get it'; to be in control of it on our terms; to grasp the art and make it ours, without having to make any fundamental changes in ourselves. In other words, as beginners, most people want to shape Taiji to fit them, but through repetition and a willingness to consciously soften what is in the way, we are gradually, subtly, reshaped to fit ourselves into 'it', then Taiji begins to reveal itself. Feeling is the only sure way forward. Yes, you have to begin with copying your teacher and other students, and </span><i><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">think </span></i><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">about what you're doing, but until you can </span><i><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">feel</span></i><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">what your body is doing progress will be limited.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Discovering a deeper meaning refines repetition into developing higher levels of skill.</span></b><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Feeling for the underlying principles, the inner aspects, through the same outer sequence, refines the connections within the body, and between the body and mind, enhancing the quality of the practice and the resulting effects that show in the understanding of yourself.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">What about repeating mistakes?</span></b><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Again, </span><i><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Feeling</span></i><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">is key. As you take a step, you can think about stepping Shoulder Width as much as you like, but it won't it happen with any clarity or consistency until you can feel that you're actually taking a Shoulder Width Step. Applying this sensory perception to each part of the body and each aspect of a movement allows self-correcting to become a natural part of the practice. Then, more repetition leads to more refinement which leads to more skill.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Once you reach this place in your practice you'll become more calm, more 'still' in the face of conflict, thereby more able to act quickly when needed. Less often caught by the 'fight or flight' response in any given situation, you have the ability to appropriately either use action or stillness as both qualities are present within your Taiji Form, and therefore available in daily life.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">In life there appears to be certain lessons that each of us is meant to learn in order to grow into the full potential of our personality, to take us closer to living our wholeness. There may be very different lessons for each person, but I have noticed they tend to start small and very quietly. If we deal with them there and then, we have learnt the lesson, redressed that particular weakness, realigned that imbalance. If we ignore or side step them, they come around again in a different guise but slightly larger and a little louder. They keep coming around and growing until we can no longer ignore them but have to stand up and deal with them. This is another form of repetition and it can be very uncomfortable, but only because we've let it get out of proportion.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Through the conscious practice of repetition the mind recognises patterns of sensation and becomes more sensitive to the subtle changes and differences we experience each time we play a Form. Through training the mind, awareness and intention in this way, it is inevitable that we become more conscious of repetitive patterns of unhelpful behaviour in ourselves, and from here are more able to act upon them for our betterment as we move slowly but surely along the path of Taiji.</span></div>Taiji Alechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821292077854103080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3057127816080049024.post-21665258851926143652015-11-13T07:00:00.001-08:002015-11-13T07:02:34.521-08:00<span style="font-size: 24px;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , &quot;lucida grande&quot; , &quot;lucida sans unicode&quot; , &quot;lucida sans&quot; , &quot;tahoma&quot; , sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="font-size: 32px;"><span style="color: firebrick;">No Time for Practice</span></span></b></i></span></span> <br /><div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin: 1em 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><img align="middle" height="240" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/03b364c56fa4bf391a0cb98ca/images/e50a2c95-2df2-4bb5-b55d-cfaf06c10f47.jpg" style="-ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; border: 0; height: 240px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: none; text-decoration: none; width: 206px;" width="206" /></span></div><div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin: 1em 0; padding: 0; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">More and more I hear that students struggle to find time to practise, especially in the early stages when it's all new. Maybe you came to learn Taiji or Qigong because you are feeling pressured and are looking for some a way to create a small pool of calmness within your day, but it's those pressures preventing you from practising. </span></div><div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin: 1em 0; padding: 0; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">I know sometimes when I look at my 'To Do' list my mind can say, “<i>Well, if it all needs to be done, it all needs to be done <u>now</u>, before I can relax, or before I can give time to myself and my practice.</i>” Of course, this is just a self-imposed deadline that has 'failure' and 'impossibe' written all over it creating even more pressure. But when I take a breath, relax into the present moment, and really look, I see that some of it can actually wait until next week, or even longer. Then I can see the most urgent thing and begin with that.</span></div><div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin: 1em 0; padding: 0; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">So it is with the practice itself, it doesn't all have to be done now. Of course, if you're learning a new sequence there is a need to do <i>some</i> practise for it to become embodied, and to be able to use it to develop and deepen the particular qualities it offers. </span></div><div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin: 1em 0; padding: 0; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">The majority of sequences we teach in this school take less than ten minutes to play through, and there are occassions when there really is no time, but it's rare that you cannot give a few minutes to yourself.</span></div><div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin: 1em 0; padding: 0; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">When time is pressured, just stand in the Attention posture for 30 seconds, but I mean <i>really</i> stand in the Attention posture, not just stand there holding your tension waiting for the time to be over! Pay attention to your alignment and <i>feel and release, </i><span style="font-style: normal;">just for 30 seconds (Soft Limit)</span>. Once you're standing there and begin to relax, you may realise you can, and want to, stay a little longer or even move into the next posture, but don't impose any "<i>Have to</i>", the very thing you're trying to be free of.</span><br /></div><div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin: 1em 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;"><img align="middle" height="233" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/03b364c56fa4bf391a0cb98ca/images/73781cb3-c91f-4ca5-b8be-a140f63dd266.jpg" style="-ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; border: 0; height: 233px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: none; text-decoration: none; width: 438px;" width="438" /></div><div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin: 1em 0; padding: 0; text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">I feel it's much more important to focus on quality rather than quantity. The sequence, whatever that may be (Short Form, Sword Form, Qigong, Dao Yin, etc.), is less important than the qualities and principles which are the things that make a real difference to how you are in the world from day to day. The sequences are a means to give yourself space and time to fully immerse yourself in the principles and qualities through physical movement. With a little experience you can observe a difference between somebody just going through the motions and somebody really practicing their art.</span></div><div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin: 1em 0; padding: 0; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Here are a few qualities to which I'm sure you can add others...</span></div><div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin: 1em 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Relaxation &nbsp;&nbsp; Feeling&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Flow &nbsp;&nbsp; Listening&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Presence&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Awareness<br /><br />Intention&nbsp; &nbsp; Continuity &nbsp;&nbsp; Versatility&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Flexibility&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Aliveness<br /><br />Precision&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Grace&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Passion&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Power&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Self-Control&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Enjoyment</span></span></i></b></div><div style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin: 1em 0; padding: 0; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: &quot;trebuchet ms&quot; , sans-serif;">Feel into this for yourself... how can you practise the principles and qualities of Taiji or Qigong in your daily activities when there's no time to play the sequence itself? When you can answer this you are well on the way to living your art.</span></div>Taiji Alechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821292077854103080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3057127816080049024.post-78959727624476259142015-08-09T02:33:00.002-07:002015-08-09T02:33:55.642-07:00 <h2 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Taiji for Everything!</span></span></h2><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What do you want from your practice?</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Whatever it is, make that your focus and that's what you'll get. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But if you make your focus the fact that it's not yet how you'd like it to be, you'll always feel a failure because you're focusing on how it isn't.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LoNjZ2tuMsM/VcceTSVdM2I/AAAAAAAAAKE/bZTPksWcCn4/s1600/wave%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LoNjZ2tuMsM/VcceTSVdM2I/AAAAAAAAAKE/bZTPksWcCn4/s320/wave%2B1.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So you want your movements to be flowing... then practise flowing movements. Today they will be more flowing than yesterday or last week, but only if you practise. Practise putting on your socks in a flowing manner, going upstairs, sitting down, rising from a chair... everything! Then flow will develop.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Your practise session will generally be only a small portion of your day. Use this time more intensively to really focus on those qualities or abilities that you want to develop. Then feel for opportunities to apply those things to other activities and situations during the rest of the day. Integration into the everyday, the regular patterns of your life, will not only improve your Taiji, but it will touch how you are and who you are.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Use Taiji as your touch stone and your life will become your Taiji.</span></div>Taiji Alechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821292077854103080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3057127816080049024.post-86733660182458766282015-03-18T01:36:00.000-07:002015-03-18T02:14:55.398-07:00Soft Limit<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In daily life we are often taught that we should be <i>doing</i> and <i>striving</i> and <i>making</i> things happen, otherwise we're just being lazy. But we often mistakenly take that to mean force and excessive effort rather than just the appropriate amount of effort; enough to get the job done without wasting energy.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uC4EWbCGqLA/VQk4qbTkh3I/AAAAAAAAAI8/PawHeWcChLo/s1600/DSCF1664b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uC4EWbCGqLA/VQk4qbTkh3I/AAAAAAAAAI8/PawHeWcChLo/s1600/DSCF1664b.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></span></div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If, in your Taiji and/or Qigong practice, you use excessive effort you create unnecessary tension, it becomes a battle, you are at war with yourself.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(see <a href="http://www.dragonspringtaiji.co.uk/index_htm_files/stretch_reflex_dec_2007.pdf" target="_blank">Stretch Reflex</a>)</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Many of us feel a certain level of tiredness almost continuously as there is so much mental pressure and stimulus in modern life. However, the amount of energy within the average human is quite phenomenal. For example, ever had a 'Stupid Computer' day? I've yet to meet a computer that responds well to being shouted at, or a keyboard that responds well to being prodded repeatedly harder, or a 'mouse' that responds well to being slammed onto a desk! But I imagine anyone who owns a computer has tried at least one of these methods to encourage their machine to pay attention when it seems to be ignoring you. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These situations mostly happen when we're tired and not thinking clearly, when we apparently have little energy, but a 'misbehaving' computer can very quickly generate tremendous amounts of energy in what we thought was a tired person!</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> This is mental tiredness where the mind and body are disconnected, we're trapped in thinking processes that drain energy away. The above example shows that the body has huge reserves of energy, but we are unable to access it because we are relying too much on thinking (Mind) and have forgotten the<span style="font-style: normal;">feeling (Body) </span>aspect of ourselves. From this place of disconnect the only option, again mistakenly, seems to be the use of force. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Soft Limit is the key to greater awareness</b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The following qualities are important in giving you the opportunity to become more present and aware as you play Taiji, and as you live your life:</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Feeling</b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Are you fighting against yourself? Where is the resistance? Can you feel the cause of any resistance or tension? How important is it? Can it be dealt with now, and if not can you let it go until it can be dealt with? </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Response</b>to those feelings</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If a friend of yours was struggling with doubt and stress, what could you do to help? Can you respond with the same kindness towards yourself? Can you soften those tensions by doing less?</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Repetition</b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Releasing stress, tension, and struggle, won't happen instantly, but if you practise softly with presence and intention, change is inevitable. Through Taiji and/or Qigong you are exploring and getting to know yourself in new ways that can benefit all areas of your life if that's how you choose to use your practice.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Which of these is more appealing - Limpness, Tension, or Relaxation?</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In Taiji terms these would be defined as:</span></div><ul><li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Limpness: dull, static, exhausted - Too </b><i><b>Yin</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><br />When you are limp, you don't feel the aliveness of your body, you only feel the heaviness o</span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">f a structure that's collapsed in on itself.</span></span></span></div></li><li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Tension: hard, immobile, exhausting - Too </b><i><b>Yang</b></i><i><br /></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">When you are tense, you can't feel the aliveness of your body, you only feel tension.</span></span></span></div></li><li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Relaxed: soft, flowing, moving, alive - Taiji</b></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Taiji is the harmonious balance of relaxation and effort – </span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">yin</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u><span style="font-weight: normal;">and</span></u></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> yang.</span></i></span></div></li></ul><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When playing Taiji, the term 'Soft Limit', encourages us to listen and feel the appropriate amount of effort required to move through each posture, some of which require more effort, some less. Because the movements are slow and purposeful your sensitivity is being consciously refined and deepened, and inevitably this will spill over into everyday tasks, giving you access to greater energy reserves because you are moving more efficiently and effectively, wasting less energy. Your mind and body are working together rather than against each other.</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div align="CENTER" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">“<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The soft Taiji method is the true Taiji.”</i></span></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Dr. Chi Chang Tao</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Whatever your level of experience, the use of Soft Limit allows you to be more present and to appreciate where you are right now in learning this new way of feeling/being with yourself. Remember: balance and kindness are also essential. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Also see the <a href="http://www.dragonspringtaiji.co.uk/rules%20for%20beginners.htm" target="_blank"><i>5 Rules for Beginners</i></a></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.dragonspringtaiji.co.uk/rules%20for%20beginners.htm"></a></span></span></div>Taiji Alechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821292077854103080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3057127816080049024.post-61030953058769600242014-11-30T08:39:00.001-08:002015-03-18T01:43:19.403-07:00Balance<h2><br /></h2><div class="western" style="color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HHGyEyWf06U/VHtHGr5V6yI/AAAAAAAAAHo/v5e99m9R8vw/s1600/single%2Bstone%2Bwith%2Bsun.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HHGyEyWf06U/VHtHGr5V6yI/AAAAAAAAAHo/v5e99m9R8vw/s1600/single%2Bstone%2Bwith%2Bsun.png" height="197" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,lucida grande,lucida sans unicode,lucida sans,tahoma,sans-serif;">Several students</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,lucida grande,lucida sans unicode,lucida sans,tahoma,sans-serif;"> have recenlty said, "I can't balance"</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,lucida grande,lucida sans unicode,lucida sans,tahoma,sans-serif;">, almost ignoring the fact that it takes balance to walk, which they manage perfectly well. What they really mean is they can't easily stand on one leg without wobbling or feeling unsteady. Blanket statements like, “I can't balance”, only reinforce a negative belief whether it's actually true or not. As humans we do like to think our beliefs are true and that often means a resistance to letting them go so there's no room for change. </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, lucida grande, lucida sans unicode, lucida sans, tahoma, sans-serif;">In this case it's the thought process that's in the way of finding the possibility of balance</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,lucida grande,lucida sans unicode,lucida sans,tahoma,sans-serif;">.</span></span></div><br /><div class="western" style="color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,lucida grande,lucida sans unicode,lucida sans,tahoma,sans-serif;">Taijiquan is a method of training oneself in all aspects of balance. Physically we become more stable as we feel a deeper connection through our feet and carry less tension in the upper body. Emotionally we become more centred by feeling where we over extend or are pulled by a reactive mind. Mentally we become more present by resting in the physical sensations of the body (the body is always in the present).</span></span></div><br /><div class="western" style="color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,lucida grande,lucida sans unicode,lucida sans,tahoma,sans-serif;">So our practice includes the whole person, inside and out. Ho</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,lucida grande,lucida sans unicode,lucida sans,tahoma,sans-serif;">w we think and how we respond to our thoughts are equally important in terms of balance. One of the best pieces of advise I've ever been given is, “Don't believe everything you think!”</span></span></div><div class="western" style="color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><div class="western" style="color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,lucida grande,lucida sans unicode,lucida sans,tahoma,sans-serif;"><b>Mental/Emotional Balance</b></span></span></div><br /><div class="western" style="color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,lucida grande,lucida sans unicode,lucida sans,tahoma,sans-serif;">There are many things that cause imbalance: fear, stress, excitement, etc. All of these states are mental or emotional, you can't actually see or touch them. Of course you can see the results of them, you can see how they affect people, but they are all internal, they only exist inside a person, they are all created by thoughts. For example, when someone says they are afraid of dogs, it's not necessarily an actual dog as they can still feel some level of fear even when there are no dogs near them. The fear is caused by the thought of what a dog might do, jump up at you or bite you, even though it's not actually happening. Stress is a form of fear or anxiety. I'm not talking about big traumatic life threatening situations that trigger fight or flight survival responses, rather the day to day thought patterns that take you into either thinking what might happen in a future situation, or remembering what happened in a past situation. Neither of these are real</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,lucida grande,lucida sans unicode,lucida sans,tahoma,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, lucida grande, lucida sans unicode, lucida sans, tahoma, sans-serif;">(<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,lucida grande,lucida sans unicode,lucida sans,tahoma,sans-serif;">because they are not happening right now) but they can</span></span> <span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,lucida grande,lucida sans unicode,lucida sans,tahoma,sans-serif;">still set off a stress response throwing you off balance mentally and/or emotionally.</span></span></div><br /><div class="western" style="color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,lucida grande,lucida sans unicode,lucida sans,tahoma,sans-serif;">Next time you feel stressed, ask yours</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,lucida grande,lucida sans unicode,lucida sans,tahoma,sans-serif;">elf if it is real or are you just thinking yourself into stress. If it is real, is there something you can do about it? If it's just your thinking, and you can recognise that, then you <i>can</i> choose to think differently. Simple, but not necessarily easy. It takes the practise of awareness, observation, and honesty. The results are very worthwhile.</span></span></div><div class="western" style="color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><div class="western" style="color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,lucida grande,lucida sans unicode,lucida sans,tahoma,sans-serif;"><b>Physical Balance</b></span></span></div><br /><div class="western" style="color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,lucida grande,lucida sans unicode,lucida sans,tahoma,sans-serif;">If you can walk unaided but feel unstable when trying to stand on one leg, there are many possible causes... fear of falling for example, or maybe a deeper belief that was planted in childhood that you're clumsy/unsteady on your feet. It can also be a disconnection from spacial awareness – so the more you can feel where your body is in space and its structural alignment, the more stable you will feel. </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,lucida grande,lucida sans unicode,lucida sans,tahoma,sans-serif;">Have you ever noticed how a table or chair with four legs needs a very flat even surface to be stable, but a stool with only three legs can be stable on practically any surface? We only have two feet, but within each foot there is the stability of a tripod. Try this exercise...</span></span></div><br /><div class="western" style="color: #606060; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,lucida grande,lucida sans unicode,lucida sans,tahoma,sans-serif;">While standing, bring attention down into the feet and feel how they contact the ground. This means feeling the sensations of pressure on the soles as gravity draws your body weight down into earth. Let the feet soften, gently move the body to feel the 'spot' where the weight is evenly spread between the centre of the heel, the ball of the big toe, and the ball of the little toe. William Chen, one of Cheng Man Ching's senior students, called these three points 'The Three Nails'. These three points are like a tripod and you have two of them! When this becomes familiar try it with your weight mainly on just one leg by feelng the 'tripod' in one foot, making sure the body is vertically aligned through that foot with your centre of gravity lowered, then allow the other foot to begin to float slightly off the ground. As the foot rises, make sure your body alingment (spine/central axis) stays vertical so that gravity continues to pull down through your foot and not off to one side. With practise your awareness and confidence will increase and you can let the 'empty' foot float higher and higher without disturbing your balance.</span></span></div>Taiji Alechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821292077854103080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3057127816080049024.post-67452912119797864482014-08-08T10:39:00.001-07:002014-08-08T10:40:37.664-07:00Melting Tension<h2 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"></h2><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bJL6GNTSX0w/U-UKv3CZJvI/AAAAAAAAAGY/SsGvCoSPZjw/s1600/DSCF4066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bJL6GNTSX0w/U-UKv3CZJvI/AAAAAAAAAGY/SsGvCoSPZjw/s1600/DSCF4066.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">When approaching a practice session it is good to have an intention to 'work' on something specific, even if that 'specific' is simply being generally relaxed. It is so easy to have the intention to 'do' relaxing which obviously comes from a tense or controlling place, the exact opposite of what you're hoping to become.</span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Most of our practises start with some kind of 'Attention' posture. Remember that it's called 'Attention' because it's about paying attention to how you are right now, and feeling what is in the way of being how you'd like to be. The key here is Feeling. So... make it your intention to <i>Feel</i>. </span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Practising Sinking or Rooting, for example, won't do anything at all unless you <i>feel</i>. We have to come at it from the inside and intend to drop deeper into feeling before Sinking or Rooting can begin to develop. You can <i>think</i> about Sinking or Rooting whilst lowering your weight/centre of gravity, but you won't have Sunk or Rooted, you'll just appear to be a bit shorter than you were a few seconds earlier. Any tensions will still be present and may have even increased!</span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Feeling the melting of tension internally allows you to Sink. So Sinking becomes the end result rather than the starting point. </span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Have a clear intention and <i>feel</i> what you're doing, <i>feel</i> for your goal from the inside.</span></div>Taiji Alechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821292077854103080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3057127816080049024.post-83369396969615349712014-01-13T01:02:00.001-08:002014-01-13T01:03:27.536-08:00Visualising Martial Applications<div class="western"></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There are many approaches to the practice of Taijiquan. Here are a few</span></div><ul><li><div class="western"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CB2Z3BTP6Vw/UtOrIQeoPGI/AAAAAAAAAFY/x6evJ2g3wt8/s1600/water+droplet+blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CB2Z3BTP6Vw/UtOrIQeoPGI/AAAAAAAAAFY/x6evJ2g3wt8/s1600/water+droplet+blue.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">relaxation</span></div></li><li><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">health exercise</span></div></li><li><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">confidence building</span></div></li><li><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">energy development</span></div></li><li><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">meditative movement</span></div></li><li><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">martial art</span></div></li><li><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">spiritual practice</span></div></li><li><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">self-defence</span></div></li></ul><div class="western"><br /></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This article is a response to a question I was recently asked, “What or who do you think about when visualising martial applications in a Solo Form practise?”</span></div><div class="western"><br /></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There are two answers to this: One is physical, the other energetic. They can both be applied to any Form, whether empty hand or using a weapon.</span></div><div class="western"><br /></div><div class="western"></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>1. Physical</b></span></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When playing a Form it can be useful to visualise an opponent. This gives a certain degree of definition to the shape of each movement. At this level of practice I visualise an opponent of exactly the same shape and size as myself, in other words a replica of myself, so as not to distort my postures by over or under reaching.</span></div><div class="western"><br /></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The fact that it is an 'opponent' (something opposed to the move I'm making) can easily create unnecessary mental and/or physical tension, thereby giving an opportunity to deepen my conscious awareness. The more clearly I can visualise 'myself' as the opponent, the easier it is to see 'him' as the embodiment of my negativities/ego. Then each time I strike or cut I can visualise the ego becoming less, the negativities being chipped away. But this cannot be done with any kind of aggression as it would only create more tension and negativity. Intention and clarity need to be underpinned by the fundamental principles of calmness and relaxation. This way of practising in turn leads towards the second answer...</span></div><div class="western"><br /></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>2. Energetic</b></span></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is a much deeper level of practice, more subtle, more internal, more meaningful, and more difficult to put into the written word.</span></div><div class="western"><br /></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At this level it's about ebb and flow, receive and reply, yin and yang (Taiji in action). Here I am creating an oncoming force through feeling rather than thinking. Unlike the Physical method where it's a visualised body or limb coming towards me, this is an energetic movement through the air, like a current moving through water only more subtly through the air. As the current comes close enough it will influence my energetic space (life-force field) and I allow that to stimulate a returning wave of energy that, in turn, moves my body into the next posture.</span></div><div class="western"><br /></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To feel this process requires a deeper level of relaxation which allows a softer focus of attention (receptive, yin), enabling a sharper focus of intention (active, yang).</span></div><div class="western"><br /></div><div class="western"><br /></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.dragonspringtaiji.co.uk/index_htm_files/Taiji%20as%20a%20martial%20art.pdf">Click here for more on the practice of Taijiquan as a martial art</a></span></div>Taiji Alechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821292077854103080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3057127816080049024.post-14509261862816093642013-11-01T09:12:00.000-07:002014-01-13T01:04:01.875-08:00Intention<div class="western"></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There are two types of intention within Taiji Form: <i>yang</i> intention and <i>yin</i> intention.</span></div><div class="western"><br /></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Yang</i>intention is active and leads to physical action. <i>Yin</i>intention, by comparison, is more passive and rides on the movement created by the <i>yang</i> intention. This can be observed when pushing a swing: the initial push is <i>yang,</i> then the <i>yin</i>intention rides the path of the swing as it returns towards you in order to push again.</span></div><div class="western"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SdcOc6_VMz4/UnPSd2sGAXI/AAAAAAAAAEg/nO_Irf1MEhI/s1600/Archer+-+Intention.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SdcOc6_VMz4/UnPSd2sGAXI/AAAAAAAAAEg/nO_Irf1MEhI/s200/Archer+-+Intention.jpg" height="200" width="174" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Other examples -</span></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Drawing a bow: <i>yang</i> is the draw and aim, <i>yin</i> is realesing the arrow.</span></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Pushing a car to get is started: the initial effort to get it moving - </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>yang</i></span>, once it's moving less effort is required - </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>yin</i></span>. </span></div><div class="western"><br /></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We all have little jobs at home we intend to 'get around to' one day. This is a <i>yin</i> intention and will only become action once it shifts to a <i>yang</i> intention.</span></div><div class="western"><br /></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Taiji Classics say 'the Mind leads the <i>Qi</i>, the <i>Qi</i> leads the body'. All action begins with a thought. If the thought remains just an idea in your head, it doesn't connect with the <i>Qi</i> so the body isn't moved. When the intention is strong/clear enough the process follows through into action.</span></div><div class="western"><br /></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One aspect of Taiji practise is to develop this process within each posture. When this becomes second nature the same process will be there in your everyday actions and decision making.</span></div>Taiji Alechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821292077854103080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3057127816080049024.post-13743073284234958452013-10-28T08:55:00.002-07:002013-10-28T08:55:47.702-07:00 <h2 class="western"><span style="background-color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Connecting to Dao</span></span><span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span></span></span></span></span></h2><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"></span><div class="western"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">When I recognise I am out of balance (stressed, sad, angry, etc.) and reconnect to Dao, I become everything and nothing.</span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"></span><div class="western"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S1EYDx7cnTE/Um6HzVAdNbI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/PptEV7L366w/s1600/DSCF0364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S1EYDx7cnTE/Um6HzVAdNbI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/PptEV7L366w/s400/DSCF0364.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"></span><div class="western"><br /></div><div class="western"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">Everything = an integral part of the world, a part of everything that exists. </span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"></span><div class="western"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"></span><div class="western"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">Nothing = the ego/personality with its wants, fears, etc, becomes irrelevant and 'I' am at peace. This doesn't mean 'I' become void, just recognise 'I' am no more or less important than a blade of grass.</span></div>Taiji Alechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821292077854103080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3057127816080049024.post-50651492285458785422013-10-25T02:30:00.000-07:002013-10-25T02:33:36.369-07:00<div class="post-header"></div><h2> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Interview with Alec Jones: Taiji teacher and Reiki Master</span></span></span> </span></h2><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">In 2000 my wife, Kate, interviewed me for <i>Reiki Magazine Internaltional</i> about my practice as a Taiji teacher and Reiki Master. In early 2013 she reprinted it as part of a celebration of my 60th Birthday in her Reiki Newsletter and on her <a href="http://katesreikiblog.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">blog</a>. <br /><br /><b><i>K: What drew you to learn Taiji?</i></b></span><br /><br /><div style="font-style: normal;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hhiWZuUw_E8/UQ_z12OuwxI/AAAAAAAAB9g/2GnAFQCaDXM/s1600/alec+taiji.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hhiWZuUw_E8/UQ_z12OuwxI/AAAAAAAAB9g/2GnAFQCaDXM/s320/alec+taiji.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">A: I’d always wanted to learn a martial art and meditation. One day in 1973, I was watching a TV programme about the Hong Kong kung fu movie industry. There were shots of actors leaping across buildings. It went straight from this to a little old man in a park, standing still. Then he started moving very, very slowly. What I didn’t realise was that he was actually moving at that speed; I thought they’d slowed the film down. At the back of the park was a road hidden by trees and a lorry went by. It just went belting across the screen and I realised that this man was actually moving that slowly! It struck me as unusual and extremely graceful; how on earth could he keep his balance, moving that slowly? So I started looking for a taiji teacher: it took me seven years to find one.</span></div><div style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">&nbsp; </span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"></span><div style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"><b><i>K: How did you come to learn Reiki?</i></b><br /></span><br /><div style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">A: After studying and teaching taiji for some years, several people had told me that they felt a particular quality of touch in my hands. They suggested I should do something with it in some kind of healing capacity. Then I found a leaflet about Reiki. I thought that if I learned Reiki, when I touched people to adjust their posture in the taij class, I could zap their tension. Then they would relax into the posture and understand the movements better. Part of my mind thought that this was what I was looking for: it didn’t take long to learn and it wasn’t expensive. But the other part of my mind thought it was some kind of get-rich-quick scheme – how could you possibly learn a healing technique in 3 days? I rang the number that was on the back of the leaflet and they started telling me about the course. They told me how much it was and I had enough money; when it was and I had the weekend free. Then they started telling me where it was and it turned out to be held in my taiji teacher’s house! So that clinched the decision. </span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"></span><div style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"></span><div style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">Several of my taiji students have learned Reiki. There are certain exercises in the taiji and qigong classes that give you an opportunity to feel your energy moving through your hands. Most people who have done Reiki can feel it sooner and stronger than those who haven’t. It enhances that connection because it’s all Qi or Ki.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">&nbsp; </span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"><br /><b><i>K: Do you feel that being a Reiki master affects your Taiji?</i></b><br /> </span><br /><div style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">A: There’s a parallel path of my personal growth in my practice of taiji and in Reiki. Becoming a Reiki master was part of that growth. So I couldn’t say exactly what Reiki or taiji has done, but they have both greatly affected my path of personal growth. I met someone in 2000 who I hadn’t seen for over 10 years. She said that I’d changed completely in that time: I was a more confident, more open person. She could really see the growth.</span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"></span><div style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"></span><div style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">I sat down once and wrote a list, taiji one side, Reiki the other. For each of the taiji principles, in terms of using them in daily life, I could put something in the Reiki column as well. It’s the same with Reiki: anything I could put down about what Reiki is or does there was something in the taiji column to match. When I’m giving Reiki to someone it puts me in touch with that sense of there being no boundary between where I end and the other person begins. The energy crosses that boundary and blurs it. I also experience that in my solo taiji practice: I feel a part of my environment; I don’t stop at my skin. Both disciplines give me a sense of my place in the universe, my connection to the scheme of things.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">&nbsp; </span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"></span><div style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"><b><i>K: Do you think Taiji can benefit Reiki students?</i></b><br /> </span><br /><div style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">A: When you’re giving a Reiki treatment, whether you’re standing or sitting, you have to find ways of aligning your body to be comfortable and relaxed, so you don’t lean on the other person. One of the main things in taiji is posture and the alignment of the body. You work with balance, so that you’re not fighting against gravity. Also, there are taiji exercises that work on the quality of touch. There is one called ‘sticking,’ where you rest your palm on the back of someone else’s hand. They move their hand around and you keep the same quality of touch as though your hand is stuck to theirs. Having done that for several years before learning Reiki, I found that when I came to put my hands on someone I knew how to touch them: the quality of touch was already established.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">&nbsp; </span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"></span><div style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"><b><i>K: Could you talk about the discipline in Taiji?</i></b><br /></span><br /><div style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">A: There are different styles and schools of taiji, but whichever form you learn you do the same form all the time. That’s the discipline of it: you don’t need to change it. If it’s difficult in places it’s meant to be. Once you relax into the idea that it’s like that for a reason, that simple understanding changes it and makes it easier. Mental resistance creates physical resistance and constriction, so relaxing mentally relaxes you physically. Then the movements become easier. </span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"></span><div style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"></span><div style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">There is a freedom in discipline. The structure of the form is what gives you the freedom to express the quality of your own energy. You don’t have to change the form to be creative. It’s the boundary of a movement that defines it. If you go beyond that boundary it becomes something else, a different movement. That’s true of the whole form: it’s the boundaries that give shape to the art. Without the boundaries, there is no shape and without the shape it’s just somebody moving about, not following the taiji principles any more. For example there is the principle of empty step: if you take a step that’s too big it’s no longer an empty step: you fall. The boundary of an empty step is very important to discover and to work on the edge of. A boundary is a dividing line; if you cross that line then what you are doing becomes something else, something formless. The difference between form and formless is that form can be reproduced and therefore passed on to others. For example if someone offered you some water to drink and you said yes please and they pour some water at you, it’s not very helpful. You need a container to make use of the water. The container is the form.</span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span><br /><div style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">I see an exact duplication between Taiji and Reiki in that. I see that as true of any spiritual discipline – you have to have a container and the container is the form. The form includes the personal practice and the method of teaching.</span></div><div style="font-style: normal;"></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"></span><div style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;"></span><div style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;,sans-serif;">(for Taiji read 'Taijiquan &amp; Qigong')</span></div>Taiji Alechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821292077854103080noreply@blogger.com0